Load-transferring apparatus.



T.- S; MILLER.

LOAD TRANSPERRING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 1911.

Patented July 7, 19141 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. I

T. S. MILLER.

LoAD TRANSFERRING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 24, 1911, 1,102,584, Patented July 7, 1914.

3 8HEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PET E RS CO, PHOTO-LITHOH WASHINOTdN, D. C.

T. S. MILLER.

LOAD TRANSFERRING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 24, 1911. 1,102,534. Patented July 7, 1914.

a SHEETS-SHEET '3 din niuAl'lldriirrt THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnrc THOMAS SPENCER MILLER, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

LOAD-TRANSFERBING- APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS SPENCER MIL- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Load- Transferring Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention broadly and generally relates to new and useful improvements in load-transferring apparatus, and more particularly contemplates a transfer apparatus which can be conveniently employed for loading the contents of wagons upon railway cars, although I desire it understood that I am not to be limited to such use, as the invention is capable of successful use for many purposes.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts in operative combination to be fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated one embodiment of my invention in the accompanying'drawings to be taken as a part of this application and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a View in end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1 looking from the left of the latter; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the holding means for the hoisting and transferring carriage; Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail view; Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation of the hoisting carriage; Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of the hoisting carriage in half-section, and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the hoisting block.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1, 2 designate standards or uprights adapted to be set on opposite sides of a railway track 3 upon which travels a car 4 to receive the load, said standardsbeing spaced apart a sufiicient distance and so arranged relative to the track that a space is left at one side of the track within which a wagon 5 carrying the load to be transferred to the car may be drawn and stand while the load is being transferred. The dimensions and structure of these standards may in a general way be said to be immaterial as long as they have sufficient rigidity and strength to perform the functions for which they are employed. Specifically I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 24, 1911.

Patented July '7, 1914;.

Serial No. 656,510.

prefer to make these standards in the form of A-frames consisting of side standards 6, 7 joined at their heads and bases by transverse members 8, 9 and at intermediate points by members 10, 11, and diagonal truss members 12. When installed for use these standards are preferably, although not necessarily, inclined toward each other as indicated in Fig. 1, and are joined by transverse connecting bridge or track supporting members 13, 14: arranged parallel to each other and having their ends connected to the transverse members of the A-frames. These bridge or track members may be inclined from a point over the space occupied by the wagon upward to their point of connection with the standard on the opposite side of the track from the wagon space, but I do not desire to be limited to this inclined arrangement as the track may be horizontal, if desired. The track members are spaced apart longitudinally in parallel relation so that there is a free longitudinal space between the same from end to end, for a purpose to be presently described.

The supporting standards or uprights may be connected by inclined bracing members 15 as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Arranged on the upper surfaces of the bridge or track supporting members are main track rail sections 16 which extend from a point adjacent the lower end of the inclined members 13, 14: to a point approximately in vertical alinement with the central portion of the track upon which the railway cars travel. At this point the bridge members are recessed as shown at 17 so that a depression or pocket is formed in the trackway at this point having a shoulder or abutment 18 at the'upper end of the main rail section. Adjacent the upper end of the inclined trackway on each member 13, 14; is an inclined supporting block 19 upon which is secured a movable track rail section 20 which extends down toward and at its lower end approaches the upper end of the rail section 16 heretofore described, said inclined rail section being ofspring metal so that in its normal position it forms'a continuous joint with the main rail section, with the space or pocket in the bridge mem ber beneath its lower end portion so that it may be depressed into said pocket below the level of the main rail section in a manner to .be presently described. Adjacent the pocket in each track supporting. member and beneath the latter, said members are connected by means of transverse members 21, 21, which support a member 22 extending, lengthwise of the track. Extending through these members 22 and projecting upwardly between the members 21, 21, connecting the'bridge ieces, and through openings in the bridgemembers are plunger rods 21 which, at their upper ends, are connectrods having at their lower end portions expansive springs 23 abutting said '1ne1nber'22 and a shoulder 24 on the plunger to normally operate to force the lower ends of the spring track sections into longitudinal alinement with the main track sections. The lower end of each plunger is provided with an adjustable stop in the form of nuts 25 to abutthe lower face of the member 22 so that the extent of upward movement of the spring track sections may be so determined and regulated that when the movable end portions of said track sections are raised, by their own resiliency and said springs, said end portions will be flush with the upper ends of the main track section; These plunger rods, in order to provide for smooth and easy movement, may slide in" sleeves 26 seated within the bridge pieces. The shoulder 24 preferably consists of nuts adjustably threadedonto the plunger so that by adjustment of the same the force of the spring may be varied. i

It will be understood that the normal position of the movable track sections is with their lower ends flush with the upper ends of the main track sections. While I may make the upper track sections of resilient material such as spring metal, it isto be understood that they may be made of rigid material and the spring-operated plunger-s alone employedto urge said track sections into their normal position.

. Arranged to travel on the tracks on the spaced bridge members longitudinally of the latter is a traveling hoisting and conveying carriage 27 which is specifically illustrated in Figs. 5and 6. Specifically, although not necessarily, this carriage comprises opposite side plates 28, 28 connected by transverse bolts 29, 29 between which plates are journaled two rope sheaves 30, 80, and at the upper. end of the carriage are transverse axles 31, 31 upon which are mounted flanged track wheels 32 adapted to run on the trackways supported by said bridge members. Supported from said carriage is a block and fall 33 including at its lower end a double sheave block 34:, illustrated specifically in Fig. 7, the ropes of the fall passing through said block and over the sheaves of the traveling carriage, the free end ofthe rope pass ing lengthwise of the bridge members between the same, thence over a pulley or sheave 35journaled at the upper end of saidthe center of the cart. ed to the lower free ends of the movable 7 spring track vsections 20, 20, said plunger in position against the stop" 40, as shown in 1 full lines in Fig. 1, over the wagon supporting the load to be transferred, and the chains 37 of the sling 38 are connected to The draft line 33 of the fall connection is then taken the hook 39 of the fall block.

up until the block strikes the bottom of the carriage, during which operation the carriage and load move longitudinally of'the bridge members toward a point over the railway car, the pull on the draft line being continued until the running wheels of the carriage pass from the main track section 16 onto the depressible or movable track sec- The operation of theabove-described em- 7 tion 20, in which position the weight of'the i carriage and the load serves to depress said movable track sections against the resistance of their own resiliency and the plun gers 21 so that said track wheels drop behind the shoulders 18 of the recesses. By the operation just stated the carriage is held at the upper end of the inclined trackway as long as the load is supported from the carriage and the draftline 83 may be slacked off to lower the load without danger of the carriage gravitating along the trackway.

WVhen the load is unslung from the block and fall, the movable track sections 20 rise to their normal position and permit the carriage to gravitate down the inclined trackway into position to have the block and fall connected to another load. It will be understood that the force exerted upon the movable or depressible track section by the spring plungers, or their own resiliency, to

raise them to normal position is 'suflicient' to overcome the weight of the carriage, but

is less than the force'exerted by the weight.

of the carriage and load so that when the loaded carnage passes onto the movable track sections the latter are depressed, but

th carriage alone would not operate to depress the track sections, and the latter operate to raise the carriage in position to gravitate al ng the traekway, whenever the carriage is relieved of 1ts load. It wlll be apparent that the movable track section 20- and theshoulder 18 of the main track section constitute in effect a latch to lock and hold the loaded carriage at the point where the load is to be dumped or lowered.

While I have shown the invention as being applied to a rigid track, I do not desire to be limited to such a trackway as the invention is applicable broadly to other forms of tracks than that shown and contemplates flexible and rigid tracks as being equivalents as far as this invention is concerned.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A load-transferring means, comprising a trackway having a recess, a movable track-section over the recess, a load carriage on the trackway, means whereby the movable track-section moves under the weight of the carriage and load, and means for liftingsaid track-section when the carriage is relieved of the load.

2. A load-transferring means, comprising a trackway having a recess, a movable track-section over the recess and movable into the same, a load carriage traveling on the trackway, and means for supporting the movable track-section under Weight of the carriage but permitting the said section to enter the recess under weight of the carriage and load.

3. A load-transferring means, comprising a trackway having a recess, a movable track-section over the recess and. forming a continuation of the trackway, and movable into said recess, a load carriage traveling on the trackway, and means whereby the said movable section automatically lowers the carriage into the recess under the weight of the carriage and load, and returns the track: section to normal position when the carriage is relieved of load.

t. A load-transferring means, comprising a trackway having a recess, a movable track-section over the recess and forming a continuation of the trackway, and movable into said recess, a load carriage traveling on the trackway, and spring means whereby the said movable section automatically lowers the carraige into the recess under the weight of the carriage and load, and returns the track-section to normal position when the carriage is relieved of load.

5. A load-transferring means comprising a trackway, a part arranged end to end, and in alinement with the trackway, the end of said part adjacent the end of the trackway being movable below the end of said trackway, a load carriage traveling on the trackway and means for supporting the said movable part under weight of the carriage but permitting the said section to be moved downward under weight of the carriage and load.

6. A load-transferring means comprising a trackway, a part disposed end to end with the trackway and normally on a levelwith the trackway, and mounted to have its end adjacent the end of the trackway movable below the said end of the trackway, and means whereby said movable part is moved beneath the adjacent end of the trackway whereby the said end of the trackway operates as a stop to prevent tra el of the carriage in one direction.

7. A load-transferring means comprising a trackway, a movable part normally in alinement with and on the same level as the trackway and mounted for movement to a point below the level of the trackway, a load carriage traveling over the trackway, and means for supporting the said movable part under weight of the carriage but permitting said section to be moved below the level ofthe trackway under weight of the carriage and load.

8. A load-transferring device, in combination, a track, a load carriage to'travel thereon, a fall block, a hoisting rope, a yielding and recovering device applied to a section of the track at its unloading point whereby the carriage is locked when the load is hanging on the fall block and unlocked when unloaded. 9. A load-transferring means, comprising a trackway including a main section and a section mounted to be moved below the level of the main section, a load carriage on the trackway and a spring-operated plunger normally maintaining the movable tracksection on a level with the main section.

10. A load-transferring means comprising an inclined trackway including a main section and a section normally in line with the main section but movable below the level thereof, said sections having their ends adjacent each other, a load carriage on the trackway, and means whereby the carriage and load automatically operate the movable track section to lower the carriage beneath the level of the main section so that the end of said main section adjacent the movable section operates as a stop to prevent traveling of the carriage in one direction, said means operating to raise the carriage to the level of the main section when the carriage is relieved of the load.

11. A load-transferring device comprising two track sections having abutting ends one of which track sections is mounted whereby its end may be moved below the end of the adjacent section, a load carriage to travel on the trackway and means whereby the movable track section is maintained on a level with the other track section when the carriage is unloaded and on the movable section, and moves below said other section when the carriage is on said movable section and loaded.

12. A load-transferring device comprising a trackway including two track sections arranged in alinementythe end of one section being closelyadjacentthe end of another section; means whereby one of said sections 1s movable to a-point' below the level of the other sect-ion, a loadcarriage traveling on the trackway, and means to maintain saidtrack sections on the sa-me=level when the carriage is'unloadedbut permits the carriage and load to move said movable 'section' below the other section when the carriage is loaded. 1

13. A load-transferring meansco mprising a trackway including two sections arranged end to endand in longitudinal alinement;

means whereby one of said sections =may=be moved downward to bring its, end below the adjacent end of the other sectionwhereby said adjacent end constitutes-a stop,-a load carriage movable-alongthe trackway," and Means whereby the endof the movable section is moved downward-underthe weight of the carriage and load. i I v 14. A load-transferring means comprising a trackway including two sections arranged;

end to end and in longitudinal alinement, means whereby one of said sections may be moved downward to bring its end below the adjacent end of the other sections whereby said adjacent end constitutes 'a stop,"aload carriage movable along the trackway,- and means whereby the end of the movable section is moved-downward under the weight of the carriage and load and is restored to" normal position when the carriage isrrelieved OfltS' load.

15. A' load-transferring means comprising a trackway including two sections end to end On substantiaIly the same level as the end of the adjacent section, said means consisting of a spring set to support said movable section under the weight of the carriage but to be depressed under the weight of the carriage and load to permit the movable section to'be moved downward.

16. A load-transferring means comprising an inclined trackway including two'sections arranged end to end and in longitudinal alinement with each. other,"one of said sections being'mounted whereby its end is movable to a pointbelow the level of'the adjacent end of the other section, a load-carriage on the trackway, means whereby the carriage and load move the movable track section downward to drop the carriage below the level of the said adjacent end of the other section, and means whereby when the carriage is relieved of its load the movable track section is automatically raised to nortrackwayymeans for suspending a load from of the'trackway operable'by the weight of the carriage and load tohold the carriagestationary on the trackway. v

l8. Aload-transferring means comprising atrackway including two sectionsarrangedz end to end inlongitudinal alinement with" each other, means whereby one ofsaid sec- 'tions is movable downward-to carry its end below the level of the end of the adjacent sectionya load carriage on the'trackwayand spring means for normally maintaining the 'movable' section on a level with the main track 1 section.

19. A load-transferring means comprising positionto'permit thecarriage to gravitate on=the main track section. L7. A load-transferring means comprisingan inclined trackway, load carriage on the said-carriage, and means at the upper "end "a trackway including two sections arranged end to end and in longitudinal alinement with each other,means whereby one ofsaid sections as movable downward to brlng its end below the adjacent "end of the other section, a load carriage on the trackway and- -Ineans-for normally maintaining the movable section' on a level with the other seetion.- v 20. A load-transferring means comprising a trackway including two sectionsarranged end to end in longltudmal al1nement, means whereby one ofsaid sections is movable to bring its end below the adjacent end of, the other section, a load car'riage traveling on the trackway, and means for supporting the movable track section under the weight of the carriage but permittingthe said section to be moved down under the weight of the carriage and load so" that the adjacent end of said other section constitutes a stop.

21. A load-transferringmeans comprising a trackway including two sections arranged end to end in-longitudinal alinement, means whereby one of saidsections is'movable .to

bringits end below the adjacent end of the thetrackway, and spring means for supportother section, a load carriage traveling over I f ing the movable track section under the i I weight of the carriage but permitting the said movable section to be depressed under.

the weight of the carriage and load.

22. A load-transferring means comprising spaced standards, inclined :spaced bridge members connecting the standards, parallel trackways on the bridge members each including a main section and a movable sec tion arranged end to end and 1n longltudlnal alinement, means whereby the movable section may be moved downward to bring the end adjacent the other section below the adjacent end of said other section, a load carriage depending between the trackways" and having running wheels on the trackways, and means for yieldingly supporting the movable track section on a level with the main section.

23. A load-transferring means comprising a trackway a carriage movable along the trackway and having a fall rope adapted to hoist and suspend theload from the carriage, a latch for locking the carriage to the trackway, and means for automatically operating said latch to lock the carriage to the track- 10 way when the carriage is loaded and to release the carriage when the latter is relieved of its load.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS SPENGER MILLER.

Witnesses ERNEST PULsFoRo, LoUIs G. RUGGLES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

